Automatic nailing or tacking apparatus.



O. P. a E. HOLMES.

AUTOMATIC NAILING OR TAGKING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN.1a.1so4.

979,958, Patented Dec.27, 1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES P. HOLMES AND EMIL HOLMES, 0F LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS T0 SIDNEY W. WINSLOV, 0F BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC NAILING OR TACKING APPARATUS.

Application filed January 18, 1904.

To all whom it may concern:

Iie it known that we, CHARLES P. HOLMES and EMIL HOLMES, citizens of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Automatic Nailing or Tacking Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its Object to provide an automatic apparatus for driving tacks ci' nails which are partially formed from a wire and are connected together end to end, the device being constructed to drive the foremost tack of the string or wire of tacks and to subsequently sever said driven tack from the other connected tacks.

In most automatic nailing machines the tacks or nails are entirely independent and separate from each other, and are confined in a hopper from which they are led to the driver or driving face by means of a raceway. The loose nails, however, are very liable to clog in the raceway, thus stopping the operation of the machine. In our improved machine where the tacks are arranged end to end, and are connected together, there is no possibility Whatever of their clogging each other as the operation .of feeding the tacks is similar to that of feeding forward a wire.

Our improvements can be applied to either hand tackers or power tackers, but for convenience of illustration we have illustrated it in connection with a hand tacker.

In the drawings, Figure l is av side elevation of a hand tacker embodying our invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections through the device showing the parts in different positions; Figs. l, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views showing various steps in the ope-ration of the device; Fig. 7 is a section on line as, Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a section on line y, Fig. 2.

In this embodiment of our invention the improvements are applied to a hand tacker, and 3 designates the body of such tacker, and 4 the hammer-head. The body is illustrated as having the nippers or pulling-over jaws 5 and 6, the jaw 5 being rigid with the body 3, and the jaw G pivoted thereto and connected by links 7 with the pivoted hinged arm 8. This general form of ham- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27., 1910.

serial No. 189,466.

| nier is one which is commonly used in the lasting of shoes, the nippers being used to pull over the upper, and the hammer-head heilig used to drive the tacks. In applying our improvements to this class of hannner, we provide the hammer-head et with the wire-feeding slide 9 which is movable vertically or in the direction in which the tack is driven and is guided by suitable ways 10 in said hammer head. This wire feeding slide 9 is cored out to provide a. suitable passageway therethrough for the string or wire ll of nails or tacks, said string being fed through a hollow stem l2 connected to the slide and passing through the body 3 of the hammer. In this form of our invention the slide 9 is moved forward or in one direction by automatically operative means such as a suitable spring 14, which encircles the hollow stem l2.

l5 designates a feed pawl which is secured to the slide 9 and adapted to engage the heads of the tacks in the string, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, and 1G is a stop or holding pawl which is rigidly carried by the hammer head and enters a slot 17 in the front of the slide, the end of said holding pawl coming into )osition to engage the heads of the tacks an prevent their backward movement. The normal position of the slide is that indicated in Fig. 2, that is, with its lower face 18 on a level with the lower face of the hammer head. The slide is held in this position by any suitable manually con trolled latch which can be readily released when it is desired to feed the tacks forward. In this embodiment. of our invention, the latch is designated by 20, and is mounted to slide in suitable guides 2l carried by the hammer, said latch being pressed forward to engage the groove 22 in the slide by means of a spring 24 designates a linger piece secured to the latch and by means of which it can be released.

The wire or string 1l of tacks may be supported in any suitable way preferably by the reel 23a carried by the standards 24a.

In this form of our invention the hammer head 4 is made detachable by having the stem 25 which extends through the hammer body, and is secured thereto by means of a nut 26. The standards 24:al can conveniently be held in place by being provided with the inturned feet 27 through which the stem 25 passes, and which are clamped between the nut 2G and the body.

From the reel the wire or string of tacks passes down through the hollow stein 12 as illustrated in the drawings.

The operation of feeding and driving the tacks is as follows: rIhe parts are normally1 in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with the point of the foremost tack even with the face 1S of the slide` and the head of said tack just below the pawls 15 and 1G and in position to be engaged thereby. When it is desired to drive the tack the operator releases the latch 2() when the slide will be moved forward into the position shown in Fig. 3 under the action of the spring 14. During this movement of the slide the pawl 15 feeds the wire of tacks forward a distance equal to the length of one tack, so that the head of the second tack is just brought under the pawl 16, see Fig. The pawls 15 and 1G are preferably slightly resilient so as to permit them to yield as the heads of the tacks pass them, and to spring over such tack heads afterward. rl`he length of movement of the slide t) is regulated by a suitable stop nut 3() upon the upper end of thc stem 12. Then the parts have been moved into the position shown in Fig. 3, the operator strikes a blow with the implement, and when the face 18 of the slide comes in contact with the material in which the tack is to be driven, the force of the blow will move the slide upwardly against the action of the spring and into its normal position, the spring-pressed latch 20 automatically engaging the groove 2l and thus locking the slide in such position. The wire of tacks, however, is prevented from backward movement by the pawl 16 and partially by the cutting mechanism hereinafter described, and therefore the foremost tack is driven into the material. During the last portion of the movement of the tack into the material, suitable cutting mechanism is brought into operation to sever the tack from the wire of tacks, and at the same time to point the next tack. In this embodiment of our invention the cutting mechanism comprises two cutters 31, 32, which are pivoted to the body 3 as at 3st. Said cutters extend through inclined guideways 35 in the slide 9, the inclination of said ways being such that the movement of the slide toward the body or from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2 causes the cutting edge of the blades to move together, while the opposite movement of the slide causes them to separate. then the latch has been released and the slide 9 moved forwardly, the blades 31, 32, are spread sufiiciently t0 allow the head of the foremost tack to pass between them as the string of tacks is fed forward. When, however, the blow is struck and the slide 9 is retracted,

the blades are gradually forced inward by the inclination of the ways, and engage the head of the foremost tack. The parts are so arranged that when the slide is fully retracted into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 thc blades are closed together and the driven tack severed from the string or wire of tacks.

rlhe various steps in the driving operation are illustrated diagrainmatically in Figs. l, 5 and 6. 1n order to better illustrate these steps in these figures we have shown the blades and the pawls 15 and 16 as operating in the saine plane, whereas in reality they operate in planes-at right angles to each other. Fig. 1 shows the position of the parts when the slide has been released, and the tack fed forward, the blades being fully spread to permit the head of the tack to pass between them, and the wire of tacks having been carried by the pawl 15 forward into such a. position that the head of the second tack has just passed the pawl 1G. l hen the blow is struck and the face 1S first meets the surface 4t() into which the tack is to be driven, the slide begins its backward movement as above described, and the wire of tacks is held from moving backward by the pawl 16, said pawl forming the resisting force which causes the point of the tack to enter the material. The backward movement of the slide causes the blades 31, 3Q, to approach each other, so that by the time the point of the tack has entered the material the blades have been swung over the head of the tack as seen in Fig. 5, both the blades 3l and 32 and the pawl 16 then furnishing the resisting force which drives the tack home. We regard this step in the operation as quite important because, since the pawl 16 must necessarily be made slightly resilient so as to permitthe tack heads to pass, it would not be feasible to rely upon it solely for the resisting force to drive the tack home.

The device can be made to operate on tacks of different length by merely regulating the distance which the slide moves by means of the nut 30 and also adjusting the pawl 15 so that when the slide is retracted itstands at the proper distance from the cutting edge of the blades.

In case it is desired to use the device as an ordinary hammer, the operator will allow the parts to remain in the position Fig. l. To drive a tack from the wire of tacks it is simply necessary to release the latch and then strike the blow, as will be evident from the above.

lVhile we have illustrated our device as being applied to a hand implement, we do not Wish to be limited to such use of it as it will be obvious that it can be applied to a greatr variety of nailing mechanisms whether operated by hand or by power. It will also be obvious that many changes in the construction of the various parts can be made without in any way departing from the invention described, and therefore we reserve the right. to make all such changes as collie within the scope of the appended claims.

Ilaving described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is zl. In a nailing apparatus, a hammer head. auto-matic tack feeding means to feed forward a string of connected tacks to bringthc end tack into position to be driven at a subsequent operation of the hamn'ier head, a 'atch to hold said mexns normally inactive, and permit an independent use of the hammer head, and tack severing devices op'- erated by the tack feeding means.

2. In a nailing apparatus, a hammer head, a tack feed member slidably mounted thereon, constructed and arranged to act on a string of connected tacks, locking means under the control of the operator to hold said feeding member retracted to permit an independent use of the hammer head, and means acting automatically to move said feeding member forward to carry the tacks in position to be driven.

3. In a nailing apparatus, a hammer head, a tack feeding member slidably mounted thereon constructed and arranged to act on a string of connected tacks, locking means under the control of the operator to hold said feding member retracted to permit an independent use of the hammer head, means acting automatically to move said feeding member forward to carry the tacks into position to be driven and a cutter to sever the driven tack.

4. In a nailing apparatus, a hammer head, a slidable tack feeding member, locking means to hold said member normally with its face in the plane of the face o-f the hammer head, and permit an independent use of the hammer head, means acting automatically to move the tack feeding member forward to carry the tacks into position to be driven and a cutter operated by the move` ment of the tack feeding member to sever the driven tack.

5. In a nailing apparatus, a hammer head, a slidable tack feeding member, a manually controlled catch to hold said member normally with its face in the same plane as the face of the hammer head, to permit an independent use of the hammer head, automatically 4operative means to feed said member forward when the catch is released, and a cutter operated by the movement of the tack feeding member to sever the driven tack from the string of tacks.

6. In a nailing apparatus, a hammer head, a slidable tack feeding member carried lockingT means to hold .said member in its retracted position, and means to prevent the tack which is being driven from backward movel'nent when the blow is struck.

I. In a nailingI apparatus. a hannner head, a slidable tack feeding' member carried thereby, automaticall \Y operative means to move the member forward and therebv carrv the tack into position tobe driven. il catch to hold normall)Y said member in its retracted position, means to prevent said tack from backward movement when the blow is struck, and means to sever the driven tack.

In a nailingl apparatus. a hammer head` a slidable tack feeding member. automatic-4 all)Y operative means to move said member forward, meansI acting normallyv to hold said member in its retracted position and a fixed pawl to prevent the tack being driven from backward movement when the blow is struck.

t). In an apparatus for driving a string of connected tacks arranged end to end. a .slidable tack feedingl member. automatically1 operative means to move. said member forward and thereby carri-7 the end tack into position to be driven, a stop device to prevent the series of connected tacks from backward movement when the blo-w is struck, and tack severing` means independent from the stop device and movable with relation to the tack feeding member to sever the driven tack.

l0. In an apparatus for driving a string of connected tacks arranged end to end, a slidable tackfeeding member, means to move said member forward and thereby carry the end tack into position to be driven, means to prevent the series of connected tacks from backward movement when the blow is struck, and means operated by the backward movement of the tack feeding member and movable with relation thereto toward the tacks to sever the driven tack.

1l. In an apparatus for driving' a series of connected tacks arranged end to end, a slidable tack-feeding member carrying a pawl to engage a tack head, a spring to move said member forward and thereby place the end tack in position to be driven, a fixed pawl to engage a tack head while the blow is being struck and thereby prevent backward movement of the string of tacks, and means independent of said pawl and movable with relation to the tack feeding member to sever the driven tack.

l2. In an apparatus for driving a series of connected tacks arranged end to end, a slidable tack-feeding member carrying a pawl to engage a tack head, means to move said member forward and thereby place the end tack into position to be driven, a fixed pawl thereby, means acting automatically to move g to engage a tack head while the blow is being said member forward, manually controlled l struck and thereby prevent backward movement of the string of tacks, and a cutting device operated by the backward movement of the tack feeding member and movable with relation thereto toward the tacks to sever the driven tack.

13. In an apparatus for driving a series of connected tacks arranged end to end. means to move the series of tacks forward to place the end tack in position to be driven, a fixed pawl to engage a tack head to prevent back ward movement of the series as the end tack enters the material, and a cutter-blade to engage the upper surface of a tack-head while the tack is being driven, said cutter operating both to sever the driven tack and to assist the pawl in preventing backward movementof the series of tacks.

14. In apparatus for driving a series of connected tacks arranged end to end, a slidable tack-feeding member, means to move said member forward and thereby feed forward the series of tacks, a fixed pawl to engage a tack-head when the blow is struck, a cutter-blade, and means to move thc cutting edge thereof above the head of a tack transversely to the line of feed when the blow is struck, said cutter-blade and the Jawl operating to transmit to the tack the orce of the blow.

15. In apparatus for driving a series of connected tacks arranged end to end, a slidable tack-feeding member, means to move said member forward and thereby feed forward the series of tacks, a fixed pawl to engage a tack-head when the blow is struck, a cutter-blade, and means whereby the movement of the tack feeding member causes the cutting edge of the blade to move with relation to the feeding member transversely to the line of feed.

16. In an a paratus for driving a series of connected tac is arranged end to end, means to feed the series of connected tacks forward to lace the end tack in position to be driven, a xed pawl to engage a tack-head and prevent backward movement of the series when the blow is struck, oppositely disposed cutters, and means to move the cutting edges of said cutters transverse to the line of feed as the blow is struck.

17. In an apparatus for driving a series of connected tacks arranged end to end, means to feed the series forward to place the end tack in position to be driven, a fixed pawl to engagea tack head, oppositely disposed cutters, and means to move the cutting edges of said cutters transverse to the line of feed as the blow is struck, the force of the blow being transmitted to the tack through the cutters and said pawl.

18. In a nailing apparatus a driving member, tack feeding means to feed forward a string of connected tacks, means to hold said tack feeding means normally inactive while permitting the operation of the driving member, and a plurality of cutters to sever the cud tack when driven.

19. In a nailing apparatus, a driving member, tack-feeding means to feed forward a string of connected tacks to place the end tack in position to be driven, manually controlled means to hold the tack feeding means nornially inactive while permitting the operation of the driving member, and a plurality of cutters for severing said end tack when driven from the string of tacks, said cutters being operated by the tack-feeding means.

20. In a nailing apparatus, a driving' member, tack-feeding means to feed forward a string of connected tacks to place the end tack in position to be driven, manually controlled means to hold the tack feeding means normally inactive while permitting the operation of the driving n'iember, and a plurality of pivoted cutters to sever the end tack when driven from the string of tacks 21.. In a nailing apparatus, a driving member, tack-feeding means to feed forward a string of connected tacks, manually controlled means to hold the tack feeding means normally inactive while permitting the operation of the driving member, and a plurality of pivoted cutter blades to sever the end tack when driven from said string of tacks, said cutter blades being operated by the tack-feeding means.

Q2. In a nailing apparatus` a slidable tackfeeding member, constructed to feed forward a string of connected tacks, and a plurality of pivoted cutter blades to sever the end tack when driven from said string of tacks, said cutter blades being moved both toward and from each other by the sliding movement of the tack-feeding member.

23. In a device of the class specified, a body having a hammer-head, a tackfeeding member slidably mounted on the hammerhead and operating to feed forward a string ot' connected tacks, and a tubular stem connected to the tack-feeding member and passing through the body, through which stem the string of tacks passes.

24. In a device of the class specified, a body, a movable tack-feeding member for feeding forward a string of connected tacks, a tubular stem connected to said tack-feeding member and passing through the body, and a stop-nut on the stem serving to limit the movement of the tack feeding member.

Q5. In a device of the class specified, a driving member, a tack-feeding member to feed forward a string of connected tacks into position to be driven, means to hold said member normally inactive, tack-severing devices operated by the tack-feeding member in its return movement, and adjustable means to limit the extent of movement of said tack feeding member.

26. In a device of the class described, a

body portion, a hammer-head depending therefrom, a tack-feeding member slidably mounted on the hai'mncr-head, a tubular stem connected to the tackfeeding member and passing through the body portion, an adjustable stop-nut on the stem, and means for severing the end tack when driven.

27. In a nailing apparatus, a driving member, spring-impelled tack-feeding means to feed forward a` string ot connected tacks, means to hold said tack-feeding means normally inactive while permitting the operation of the driving member, and a plurality of cutters to sever the tack when driven.

28. In a nailing apparatus, a driving member, spring-impelled tack-feeding means to feed forward a string of connected tacks, said tack feeding means being restored to its normal position against the action of the spring by the force of the blow, means to hold said tack-feeding means normally inactive, ivliile permitting the operation ot' the driving member, and a plurality of cutters for severing the end tack when driven, said cutters being operated by the backward movement of the tack-feeding means.

29. In a nailing apparatus, a driving member, automatic feeding mechanism mounted on the driving member for feeding a string of connected tacks to bring the end tack into position to be driven by 1 subsequent movement of the driving member and means controlled by the operator for holding said feeding mechanisn'i inactive u'hile permitting the operation ot the drivingmember.

30. ln a nailing apparatus, a driving member, a tack feeding member for feeding a string of connected tacks to bring the end tack into position to be driven by a subsequent movement of the driving member, means for varying the movement of the tack feeding member for operation on tacks of diit'erent lengths and tack severing mcehanism actuated by said tack feeding membe in its return movement to sever a tack after it is driven.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of the sul'iscribing witnesses.

CHARLES l). HOLMES. EMIL HOLMES.

IVitnesses for Charles I). Holmes:

NATHAN HEARD, MABEL PARTELOW.

IVitnesses for Emil Holmes:

Jol-1N C. EDWARDS, MARGARET A. DUNN.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 979,953.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 979,953, granted December 27, 1910, upon the application of Charles P. Holmesand Emil Holmes, of Lynn, MassaL chusetts, for an improyement in "Automatic N ailing or Taoking Machines, an error appears in the printecl Snecitication requiring correotion-as'follows'; Page535 line-20,

the Word feed'h should-readfeedz'ng; and that the-said I Jetters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conformA to the record of the oase in the Patent (mice.v

Signed and sealed-this 7th-day of February, A. D., 1911.

' o. o. BILLINGS,

Ac/mg Commsz'oner of Patents.

[SEAL] 

